circle.com

[OROBTC]

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I liked and used circle.com for awhile.  What I liked was the relatively easy service of buying BTC from them.

Then, perhaps 6 weeks ago (?), they started asking me for more verification, etc.  So, I left.

Pity there are so few easy ways to buy BTC.  localbitcoins is a hassle for me, and BTC ATMS are not very convenient as well as expensive (9% or higher preimums over "spot" in my city).

[JeffBrad12]

apparently they have made some changes around their service (i am not using circle and just reporting what i have heard in the news) they no longer support buying and selling of bitcoin and they refer you to coinbase!!

read it more on circle itself (the article is from today):
https://support.circle.com/hc/en-us/articles/217972003

This might not be unconnected with the statement by its CEO about two weeks ago. His opinion was that bitcoin won't see beyond next ten years, so I suppose he is taking a cautious move and putting his money where his mouth is. At any rate, I think the opportunity to convert bitcoin to fiat currencies is still there for anyone to use.

And the statement has discussed by CEO was happening right now. Erasing the bitcoin from his service and totally they are feeling unsatisfying with that.

Forget circle, and he didn't mean something without bitcoin. Circle can't be competing with the other bitcoin exchange, and they were feeling stressed. LOL

[mbuk81]

circle.com like most site accept to sell bitcoins then change there mind  because of all the paper work that's involved with buying and selling on a site like this. I think there need o be a better site out there then circle or coinbase s both need a lot of id to which I believe that bitcoin was designed not be like a normal currency buy that hat site like this make bitcoin so yes use coinbase if you want the same or use localbitcoin that what I use and always will 

[pawel7777]

I think there's a misunderstanding. They aren't removing themselves from Bitcoin, they are just not offering exchange uses anymore. They are going to run a sidechain for settling payments. So it's not about being against BTC, they just won't be taking part in the actual exchange.

This.
Here's the related CD article that sheds some light on the matter:
http://www.coindesk.com/circle-bitcoin-shift-isnt-what-it-seems/

...
Circle has not "pulled the plug" on bitcoin, as many have reported.
Users can still store it in their Circle account and send it to others. Bitcoin will continue to be a settlement token and Spark, the new protocol unveiled this week, is partly based on the bitcoin system.
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Anyone knows what will happen if I send btc to an old circle btc address after having converted to local currency (and can't convert back to Bitcoin)? If such deposits go through and get auto-translated to fiat, then you could still use circle to sell btc.